Search continues for Channahon kayaker missing on Lake Michigan

October 17, 2011|Staff report

Searchers continue to look for a southwest suburban teen who is missing after his kayak capsized Saturday in high waves on Lake Michigan near New Buffalo, Mich.

Mitchell Fajman, 18, of Channahon, and two other southwest suburban teens -- Nick Casimir-Lang, 18, of Shorewood and John Basso, 17, of Channahon -- had traveled to the area to kayak on Lake Michigan for the day, according to New Buffalo Chief of Police Larry Pitchford.

All three were tossed into the water by high waves about 2:52 p.m. Saturday near the mouth of the New Buffalo harbor. Basso was able to get to shore on his own and Casimir-Lang was pulled from the water near the east end of a pier by New Buffalo police officers, according to a release from the New Buffalo Police Department.

Attempts to rescue Fajman, who was in the water on the east side of the pier clinging to an overturned kayak, were unsuccessful and he eventually submerged.

All three were wearing life vests, according to the release.

Multiple units were involved in the search from Saturday through Sunday. The United States Coast Guard contributed a helicopter to the operation until suspending its search at 6 p.m. Sunday. Today a boat from the Berrien County Sheriff's Department is on the lake continuing the search, and Pitchford said that New Buffalo will send out its own craft once the lake waters, still experiencing high waves, calm.

Pitchford said the department is using all-terrain vehicles as part of a land search between the Warren Dunes State Park north of New Buffalo and the Indiana state line.